Aquino’s search for new Cabinet members starts

TARLAC CITY: Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, the leading contender based on partial tally of results to succeed outgoing President Gloria Arroyo, on Tuesday said that it was still too early to claim victory but admitted that he was already looking for prospective candidates for his Cabinet.

According to Aquino, the search covers his rivals in the May 10 race for president and supporters of his family.

“After the Comelec [Commission on Elections] is done, it is still Congress [that will] to proclaim the victor. I don’t want to claim victory prematurely,” he said.

Aquino added that his parents—late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and late former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino—taught him that “one has no claim victory when there is uncertainty.”

Based on the Comelec’s partial results, the LP bet was leading the race by a big margin.

He thanked the people and his loyal supporters who have supported his bid.

“I am grateful to the Filipino people for their support and to our loyal supporters in our people’s campaign, who made this achievement possible,” Aquino said in a prepared statement.

“It has been an honor to share this humbling experience with all of you as we begin to accept the responsibility of leading our nation with over 90 million people. However, our commitment to the integrity of these elections was and remains that the vote of every [voter] be counted fairly and honestly,” he added.

Aquino said that he was still hoping that his running mate, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd, would still be able to catch Mayor Jejomar Binay of Makati City (Metro Manila), the leader in race for vice president, according to the Comelec tally.